Trustee's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The Trustees present the annual rq)ort for St Colmans Parish Church for the year ended 31 December 2023. Objective5 and Activities The charitable purpose of the Church of Ircland is the advancement of religion. The principle fimction of St Colmans Parish Church is to support the advancement of Christian religion by promoting, through the work of St Colmans Parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral. evangelistic, social and ecumcnical. Being open to the engaging society as a ilhole and offering support for those needg help are fimdamental to the practtce and benefits of Christianity. As a result of the activitr. and pursuit of the advancement of the Christian religio the St Colmans Parish has custodv of property and records: materials and artefacts of significance to the cultural and religious heritage and nuint¢nance of wkn'ch is undertaken b). the Select Vestry of St Colmans Parish. Achievements, Performance and Public Benefit The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity. commS1on for Northern Ireland's guidancc on public benefit to ensure the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as w.ell as providing public benefit. Financial Review Please see separate f1claI report. It is the policv of the Trustees to invest and reserve funds to gain the best possible return without putting them at risk. Our operating income and expenditure report Shov a surplus in 2023. A SUTpIus is also eypected in 2024. Going Concern The Trustee's have revieil'ed the budgcts for the year ahcad and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in placc to ensure the Parish can continue its activities and the flnancial statements for the year ended 2023 call be signed off as a going concern. Structure. Governance and Management Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity Chapter III of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland governs Parished and Parochial Organisation. The Select Vestr). members are the Chatiti, Trustees. Recruitment and Appointment of Select Vestry lTnteeS) All members of the Church of Ireland M'ho are over the age of 18 and are either resident within the Parish or live elseTh'her¢ but have been accustomed members of the congregation for at least three months . maTr' register as mcmbers of the general vestry. of the paristy allowing
them to attend and vote at meetings of the general vestrv and to stand for election to the Select Vestry. A meeting of the general vestry is held at least once a vear. The Select Vestry is clected as part of this general vestry Meetll. The Select Vestry Trill hold their positions for a period of one year. Select Vesty members may be re-elected annually and there is no limit on the number of tenns may be served. Organi5ational Structure The Select Vestry is responsible for the day to da)" managment of the parish. The Select Vestry consists of a member of the clergy serving in the paristy the church wardens. the glebe warden and generally not more than twelvc other m¢mrS of the general vesty elected at the General V¢stry. The Select Vestry is chaired bv the incumbent or any othcr members of the clcTgi' officiating in the parish. Select Vestrli members are rcsponsible for making decisions on matters of general concem and importance to the parish including deciding how funds are to be apphed. The Select Vestry meets at times fixed by the members or the diocesan svnrxl. Special ning5 maj be convened at anN" time by the cbairperson or the church wardens. In 2023 the Select Vesty met onc£ during the vear and the average attendance Ilas 80 %. Compliance and Public Benefit The Parish has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Nortbern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that activities entered into during the Near have helped to aclll'eve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providll public benefit. Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees report and statement of ieceipts and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities in Northem Ireland income of less than £250:000 requires trustees to prq)are a statement of receipts and pavments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each funCIal J'ear. The trustc¢s are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to shoiv and explain the Parish's transactions and disclose with accuracy at the time the assets and b'abllities of the Parish. They are also responsible for safcguarding the assets of the Parish and hence for tsking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other itrcgularitses. Signed on behajf of the trustees: Mrs Diane 'CharlI80n Treasurer 29 August 2024